Flush valve



FLUSH VALVE Filed March 17, 1931 3 w 7. (a Q 6 a/ 2 9 3 7 m. e a

6 2 H A a a WW 3 a INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a flush valve structure adapted for controlling the supply of flushing water to toilet bowls and like fixtures. This invention pertains to a fiush valve adapted to be set in operation by momentary manipulation of a control member such as a handle so as to unseat a relief'valve and cause a control valve to be opened by pressure of the liquid supply and to remain open a predetermined interval.

It has been found that, if the liquid supply pressure on the inlet side of the flush valve becomes less than that on the outlet side and the flush valve outlet is submerged, water from the bowl will be educed and pass into'the service supply lines. In the case of toilet and closet bowls, which are flushed by water supplied from.

the service mains, sewage and contaminated water may be drawn into the service lines with resultant unsanitary effects. Negative or suction pressure occurs at times in the service lines when a large supply of water is being drawn from the system. The present invention relates to auxiliary means in the flush valve, preventing eduction of Water or liquid from the receptacle to be flushed. Flush valves having a main valve actuated to closure by an expansible chamber working member employ a by-pass from the inlet of the flush valve to the chamber and a relief valve to bleed the chamber and cause unseating. When negative pressure is developed in the inlet, unless retrograde flow in the by-pass is prevented, the displacement chamber is bled through the bypass, causing unseating of the main valve and siphoning of the basin of the fixture into the 36 inlet. The present invention has for an object the provision of a check valve and regulating unit for the by-pass which prevents retrograde flow and enables adjustment of the period of opening of the main valve.

These objects together with other objects and corresponding accomplishments are obtained by means of the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:--

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the flush valve in normal or closed position; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale as seen on the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing a fragment of the regulating and check unit; and Fig. 3 is a section as seen on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the flush valve, a casing 5 has an inlet 6 for connection to the house service piping and an outlet '7 for the delivery of flushing water to the fixture. In the head of the casing a piston chamber 8 is formed. At the juncture of the inlet 6 and outlet '7 is an annular rib 9 for seating thereon of the main valve and dividing the casing into an inlet chamber 10 and an outlet chamber 11. A piston body 12 is adapted to be reciprocated within the piston chamber 8, it being formed with a piston end 13 and a valve end 14 cooperating with the seat 9. A bore 15 extends through the piston body to form a relief valve port. The piston end 13 and piston chamber constitute an expansible chamber motor. Cup leathers 16 and 17 provide packing against passage of liquid by the piston in both directions.

The relief valve is of the tilting type having a disk 18 and a stem depending through the bore 15. This stem comprises an alining portion including radial ribs 19 tapering toward the lower end and is provided with a depending part 20. A stop pin 21 extends above the relief valve and is adapted to engage the cap 22 on the casing. The lower end of the stem 20 provides an operating portion for the relief valve.

The valve is operated by means of a rod 23 normally held in retracted position by a compression spring 24 engaging a collar 25. A handle 26 is mounted so as to be movable laterally in any direction, tilting of the handle causing its head 2'7 to engage the collar 25, push the rod 23 inwardly, engage the relief valve stem and tilt it, thereby unseating valve disk 18.

A boss 28 is formed on the casing between the expansible or piston chamber and the inlet 6 and 5 is provided with a by-pass serving for communi cation of the inlet and chamber. This by-pass comprises a port section 29 and a duct 30 with an intermediate regulating and check unit 31. It will be noted that the port section 29 comprises a bore extending through the boss having a threaded portion 29a and an enlarged portion 29b. The enlarged portion 29b communicates with the duct 30 and the latter extends along the wall of the expansible chamber in the form of an open channel 30a. In the bore 29 is a tubular body 31 having a threaded end 31a engaged with the threads of port portion 29a. The body is enlarged at 31b to provide a snug fit with portion 29b and form an annular passage 32. A further enlargement 310 of the body provides a shoulder to overhang the rim of boss 28. A threaded reduced portion 31d provides for attachment of a cap 33. In the body 31 is a bore, 34, counterbored at the upper end to provide for reception of associated elements forming a stufiing box marked generally 35. In the bore is a regulating and valve bumper plug 36 threadedly engaged therewith and extending through the stufling box so as to be packed. The plug has a kerf 36a at the top for engagement by a screw driver to turn the plug and thereby adjust its longitudinal position in the bore. At the bottom it is recessed as indicated by 361). In the side of the body and in registration with passage 32 is an opening 37 placing the bore and passage in communication. Bore 34 is reduced in area at the bottom to form a valve seat. A valve ball 38 coacts with the seat and plays between the bumper 36 and the seat. The lower end of bumper 36 is arranged to be overlapped with opening 37 and in effect form a regulatnig valve. Valve ball 38 permits ingress of liquid from inlet 6 to the expansible chamber but prevents egress or retro grade flow. The amount of fiow to the chamber may be regulated by adjusting bumper 36. Valve ball 38 is obviously smaller in diameter than bore 34 to permit passage of liquid around the ball. To center the ball in its upper position, socket 36b is provided. This insures against closure of opening 37 by the ball or variation of impedance of fiow therethrough by the ball.

In the position shown in Fig. 1, the piston is at the lower end of its travel with the main valve 14 seated over port 39, and the relief valve 18 seated. The expansible chamber above the piston 13 is filled with water under pressure from the inlet chamber 10 trapped therein. Upon tilting the handle 26, the relief valve 18 will be unseated. This places the expansible chamber in communication with the outlet chamber 11 and the pressure on the lower side of the piston 13 being greater than that on the upper side in the expansible chamber, causes the piston to travel upwardly. The travel is quick and raises the main valve 14 off its seat 9. Water then rushes from the inlet chamber 10 into the outlet chamber 11 and to the fixture. Relief valve 18 reseats itself and water under pressure from the service piping passes into the expansible chamber at a slow rate by way of the unit 31 and passage 30. moving the piston downwardly and eventually causing seating of the main valve.

Before describing the action of the regulating and check unit 31, an action of the flush valve without such means will be described. If a negative pressure is developed on the inlet side 6 of the flush valve, which may be occasioned by a fire hydrant in the service mains being opened or by reason of any large momentary withdrawal of water, an eduction effect will be produced by way of by-pass 30. Water is then withdrawn from the expansible chamber above piston 12, relief valve 18 is lifted from its seat and siphoning of water from the fixture into the service piping occurs, if the outlet pipe '7 is connected to submerged piping. If at this time the handle 26 is manipulated, the opening of the relief valve 18 is aided and the fixture contents are quickly siphoned into the house service system. If the difference in pressure on the piston is insufiicient to unseat relief valve 18 and leather 1'! were not present, liquid could leak past leather 16 into the expansible chamber and pass to the inlet chamber 10.

To the end that such withdrawal of water from the fixture may be prevented, unit 31 is provided which prevents egress of liquid from the expansible chamber by way of by-passage 30, yet permits normal functioning. The period of opening of the main valve may be regulated by adjusting bumper plug 36.

What I claim is:

1. In a flush valve having an inlet chamber and an expansible operating chamber with a bypass connecting said inlet and expansion chambers: a regulating and check unit in said by-pass having a cage with an inlet port and an outlet port, a valve in said cage checking retrograde flow of liquid from said expansible chamber through said inlet port to said inlet chamber and an adjustable valve bumper member to selectively vary the outlet port opening from said cage to said expansible chamber.

2. In a flush valve having an inlet chamber and an expansible operating chamber with a bypass connecting said inlet and expansion chambers: a regulating and check unit comprising a tubular cage having a valve seat at the lower end, a longitudinally adjustable valve bumper plug closing said cage at the upper end, a lateral opening in said cage communicating with the bore thereof and disposed for overlapping relationship with said plug whereby the port opening may be regulated, and a ball valve for playing between said seat and plug whereby retrograde flow of liquid from said expansible chamber to said inlet chamber is checked.

3. In a flush valve having an inlet chamber and an expansible operating chamber with a bypass connecting said inlet and expansion chambers: a regulating and check unit comprising a tubular cage having a valve seat at the lower end, a longitudinally adjustable plug closing the upper end of said cage, a lateral outlet opening in said cage disposed for overlapping relationship with said plug, whereby the port opening A may be regulated, and a ball valve for playing between said seat and plug whereby retrograde fiow of liquid from said expansible chamber to said inlet chamber is checked, said plug having a concentric socket on its lower face to center said ball valve when the latter rests thereagainst.

WILLIAM F. SCHULTHEISS. 

